49-678: Foster Street is a hamlet in the North Weald Bassett civil parish of the Epping Forest district in the English county of Essex . A non-conformist burying ground was established in 1677 by William Woodward, for the congregation that he was the leader of in the Harlow area. Among the burials are the radical editor Benjamin Flower , his wife Eliza, and their two daughters, the composer Eliza Flower and
98-457: A brick church and in 1931 the Wesleyan church at Weald Gullet was rebuilt. In 1939, however, the Wesleyan church at Thornwood was closed owing to lack of support. A village hall was built in 1928, on the south side of the village. In 1967, the village hall was rebuilt. The parish was part of Ongar Rural District from 1894 to 1955 and Epping and Ongar Rural District from 1955 to 1974. The parish
147-593: A day mail was established at North Weald. A telegraph office was set up in 1886. The telephone service was introduced in 1920. The population rose very little during the first 20 years of the 20th century, and was only 1,239 in 1921 with the Post Office Radio Station established at Weald Gullet in 1921. There was an increase to 1,642 in 1931 and then a burst of building lasting until the Second World War. A few council houses were built before 1939. In
196-465: A further 47% still owing a mortgage. 12% of residents live in council houses. Residents of North Weald also vary in terms of their trade. In 2011, the majority of North Weald residents worked in retail (16%). 13% worked in real estate and 12% in manufacturing. Unemployment in North Weald is low (2.0% in 2011). The demographic are men between 40 and 44 who make up 9% of the total population. Women make up
245-528: A similar number. There are two care homes in North Weald, Leonard Davis House and Cunningham House to accommodate for the large proportion of residents who are over 60. The M11 motorway cuts through the middle of the parish and has a junction with the A414 road . The southern boundary runs parallel to the heritage Epping Ongar Railway and makes a small deviation to include the whole of North Weald railway station . The nearest regularly served stations are outside
294-500: A single seat, but with three members. The 2024 district council election was notable in that it produced the first Independent councillor for the village since Harry Waterman in 1973 who won the most votes by a considerable margin. This election also saw the Conservatives' worst performance since the 1960s. As a result, of the three candidates elected, the one who secured the least votes will face re-election in two years time, followed by
343-417: A station at North Weald . This brought London within easy reach. This line was electrified in 1957 but closed to regular passenger traffic in 1994. Beyond Ongar public transport was poor until the introduction of motor buses. There are now infrequent bus services to Epping , Ongar, Brentwood . North Weald was late in getting its own post-office, probably because it was served directly from Epping. In 1883
392-484: Is a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest district of Essex , England. The village is within the North Weald Ridges and Valleys landscape area. A market is held every Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday at North Weald Airfield . The market used to be the largest open air market in the country but reduced its size over the years. North Weald Bassett in approximately 20 miles (32 km) north-east from
441-452: Is approximately 14 miles (23 km) to the east. The Shonks Brook stream runs into the village from North Weald. It is a tributary of Cripsey Brook which flows from Ongar and through the surrounding area. The land is predominantly arable with much land used for farming. Hastingwood is a linear street village. There are four farms within the parish. As of 2011 there are 143 households with an average household size of 2.2. The village
490-552: Is considered a marginal constituency but since 2010 has become increasingly Conservative. Locally it is a strongly Conservative area with the Conservatives winning 60% of the vote in 2015's local elections . Hastingwood is represented at the Essex County Council by the Conservative county councillor for North Weald and Nazeing, having won the 2017 election with 78.5% of the vote, followed by Labour with 12.7%. On
539-539: Is controlled by Independents. The Council formerly had several Conservatives elected to serve on it, however most left, leaving just one Conservative. Below is a list of Parish Council chairmen for North Weald Bassett since 1934. The longest consecutive serving chairman was Cyril Hawkins who served for 11 years until his death in 2017. However, Harry Waterman served 12 non-consecutive years as chairman. North Weald has voted for Conservatives at every district council election since 1968 except twice - 1973 and 2024. Until 1979,
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#1732852475386588-481: Is populated sparsely. Thirteen inhabitants of the village are of Indian, African or other background. Twelve were born outside of the UK. The vast majority of the population identify as Christian with the significant other half as atheist. Fifty-nine residents own their own home with 49 still owing a mortgage. There is one house subsidised by the council. Residents of Hastingwood vary in terms of their trade. In 2011, 14% of
637-458: Is run by a parish council , with its offices in the village of North Weald. As at the 2001 census the population was 6,039 and 51.5% female, with an average age of 39. There are 2,387 households, with an average household size of 2.45. The village Parish Council is based in Thornwood (as of 2024) and is responsible for maintaining allotments, local cemeteries, and public spaces (including parks,
686-537: The 17th century. Further Grade II listed buildings include farmhouses, barns and cottages, and Paris Hall which dates to the mid-16th century. Harlow Garden Centre stands just off Hastingwood Road across the A414 near the Hastingwood Interchange roundabout. Hastingwood Village Hall off Hastingwood Road was originally built in 1922, but refurbished and restored in 2014 and was opened by Robert Halfon MP ;
735-545: The 1940s, the North Weald Bassett Parish was formed and North Weald was removed from the Ongar Hundred and placed, along with Thornwood, Hastingwood and various other small villages in the parish. Since 1945 three large housing estates have been built. In 1953 the estimated population of North Weald was 3,200-an increase of almost 100 per cent. on 1931. The iron mission church at Thornwood was replaced in 1923 by
784-412: The 19th century. Hastingwood House was erected in 1840 as a large gault brick house with farming rights. The inclosure of the common in 1861 resulted in further building development. Hastingwood established its first church in 1864 as a chapel of ease . This was part of a process of decentralising the parish, distributing the population towards the areas of Thornwood and Hastingwood. Hastingwood Farm
833-519: The Chapel of Ease at Hastingwood (1864), the Iron Mission Church at Thornwood (1888), and the Wesleyan churches at Thornwood (1883) and Weald Gullet (1888). The original school was relinquished in favour of a larger building and the new school was extended in about 1842 and again in 1871. In 1865 coach travel in this area was superseded by the opening of the railway through Epping to Ongar , with
882-527: The Debt of Honour memorial, and benches), and providing first-stage planning scrutiny of developments and applications. Since 2017, Cllr Alan Buckley has chaired the Parish Council, and the deputy Chair is Shirley Hawkins. The Council is not elected, but rather residents apply to join and then are appointed to the body once a vacancy is published. As of July 2024, the council has 14 members, with one vacancy. It
931-593: The North Weald Bassett parish fell within the Harlow constituency, before boundary changes in 1997 saw North Weald and North Weald were brought under Epping Forest, whilst Hastingwood remained part of Harlow. In 2010, North Weald was adopted into Brentwood and Ongar, whilst Thornwood remained in Epping Forest. Below are the list of MPs for the majority parts of the parish. Since 2010, North Weald has been part of one of
980-404: The North Weald Bassett parish which rises to 300 ft. North Weald is 2 miles (3 km) northeast of Epping , 3.5 miles (6 km) west of Chipping Ongar and 4 miles (6 km) southeast of Harlow . The county town of Chelmsford is approximately 14 miles (23 km) to the east. There are significant patches of sensitive historic landscape at the north-eastern and western edges of
1029-485: The North Weald and Nazeing county council division, whilst Thornwood falls under the Epping and Theydon Bois division. Also represented in this seat are the communities of Epping Green, Epping Upland, Lower Nazeing, Bumble's Green and Roydon. The seat has been consistently Conservative. In 2025, the division boundaries will change and Thornwood will be incorporated under the North Weald and Nazeing division. Lib Dem From 1974,
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#17328524753861078-528: The centre of London. The parish abuts the outskirts of the towns of Harlow to the north and Epping to the south-west, and is split between these post towns for postal addresses. The parish includes the village of North Weald and the hamlets of Foster Street , Thornwood , Thornwood Common , Tyler's Green, and Hastingwood . It is rural, with large sections of parish land at the south-west used by North Weald Golf Course, and North Weald Airfield and (ICAO: EGSX), an operational general aviation aerodrome which
1127-420: The centre of the parish, Canes, Marshalls and Paris Hall at Hastingwood . In addition to the four manor houses there were probably substantial medieval dwellings at Tylers Green, Bowlers Green, Bridge Farm (near Weald Bridge), and possibly one or two other places. The parish church, St Andrew's, which dates from the 14th century, is ½ mile east of Weald Hall. Apart from the church the oldest existing building in
1176-524: The council. The council manages such things as local cemeteries, green space, recreational grounds, and allotments. The highest parts of the parish are in the south and west, rising to 322 feet (98 m). The land slopes downwards from this point to the main area of housing at the point in which Hastingwood Road and Mill Street split. Hastingwood is 2.5 miles (4 km) east of Harlow, 3.5 miles (6 km) north-east of Epping and 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Chipping Ongar. The county town of Chelmsford
1225-563: The district council, Hastingwood is represented by one currently Independent councillor. Re-election for the position is in 2019. Hastingwood is one of the seats on the Epping Forest District Council to have only one councillor. The village is governed by a parish council. The parish council covers the North Weald Bassett parish and represents the settlements of North Weald, Thornwood , Hastingwood, Tyler's Green and Foster Street . Fifteen unelected councillors are part of
1274-422: The following year. A toll-gate was erected at the junction of the main road and Woodside. The gate-keeper lived at first in a rented cottage but a toll-house was built about 1818. This still survives: a single-story building of brick, now plastered, with a tiled roof. In 1801 North Weald, with 620 inhabitants, was one of the more densely populated parishes of the area. In the 19th century the population followed
1323-518: The hall holds village events,. The nearest London Underground service to the village is Epping which is served by the Central line . The closest National Rail service is from Harlow Town , which is served by the West Anglia Main Line and is operated by Abellio Greater Anglia . No buses run through Hastingwood. The only buses which run near the village are at the Hastingwood Interchange,
1372-466: The main farm house which is now a public house and restaurant. The M11 motorway , which runs near the west of the village, was completed in 1980. Hastingwood has seen various businesses established, St Clare's Hospice was established at the south of the village and opened by Baroness Jay of Paddington in 1990. The chapel of ease has since been converted to a dwelling. Hastingwood is represented at Westminster by Robert Halfon , MP for Harlow . This
1421-425: The most Conservative supporting seats in the UK. Consistently gaining over 60.0% of the vote, the 2024 general election saw the Conservatives fall to its worst-ever vote share in the constituency winning 36.7% of the vote to Reform UK's 24.3% and Labour's 23.0%. According to ward estimate breakdowns , North Weald voted in the following way at the 2024 general election: The village is in the southwest highest part of
1470-420: The next lowest candidate in three years time, whilst the highest scoring candidate would have a full four-year term. The seat is currently represented (in order of votes secured at the last election) by Cllr Tom Bromwich (Independent), Cllr Nigel Bedford (Conservative), and Cllr Leslie Burrows (Conservative). Lib Dem Lib Dem Lib Dem North Weald, Tyler's Green, Hastingwood, and Foster Street all fall within
1519-526: The north side of the main road near the end of Church Lane were destroyed in a German air raid in 1941. Until the 17th century the Epping-Chelmsford road was probably the most important in the parish. In 1786 a petition was presented to the Epping Highway Trust by the people of North Weald asking that the road should be taken over by the trust. An Act of Parliament for this purpose was passed in
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1568-475: The parish is probably Tylers. This is a timber-framed and plastered house consisting of a central block with a gabled cross-wing at each end. It may date from the 16th century but there is some evidence that the central block was an earlier open hall with a screens passage at its south-west end. The 'King's Head' at Weald Gullet is a timber-framed building probably of the same period. It was restored about 1927. Two ancient timber-framed cottages which formerly stood on
1617-491: The parish was split into two district council seats - North Weald, and Thornwood and Hastingwood. Each had just one representative. In 1979, this changed, and the entire parish and its villages were incorporated into a single two-member seat. In 2002, the boundaries were changed splitting the Parish up again into three seats. North Weald village would remain as a two-member seat and cover the entire village and Tyler's Green. Thornwood
1666-435: The parish, with Harlow Town railway station 2 miles (3 km) to the north-west and Epping tube station 1 mile (2 km) to the south-west of the extreme edge of the parish border. Bus services are mostly provided by Vectare and Central Connect. Other services are provided by First Essex and Stephensons of Essex. Local bus routes 13C, 18/18C, 420, 420A, 491, 492, 620 and Epping Ongar Railway Vintage Route 339 serve
1715-669: The poet Sarah Fuller Adams . The burial ground remained in use until 1979. Nearby settlements include the town of Harlow and the area of Church Langley and the hamlets of Hastingwood , Threshers Bush and Hobbs Cross . For transport there is the M11 motorway and the A414 road nearby. This Essex location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . North Weald Bassett 51°43′09″N 0°09′46″E / 51.71930°N 0.16284°E / 51.71930; 0.16284 North Weald Bassett , or simply North Weald ( / ˈ w iː l d / WEELD ),
1764-456: The population was 4,461 and 51.5% female, with an average age of 39. As of 2011 there are 1,867 households with an average household size of 2.45. Population density (people per hectare) stands at 6.80. In 2011, 98% of citizens were white-British, 1% were mixed and 1% Asian. The majority of citizens identify as Christian. The average life expectancy in North Weald is 80–82 years. In terms of housing, over 28% of residents own their home, with
1813-533: The post-Second World War period, it rose. The proximity of Hastingwood to North Weald Airfield also served as a reason why housing development was required. In 1949, Hastingwood was incorporated into the North Weald Bassett parish and removed from the Harlow Hundred. Between the 1940s and 50s the 'Rainbow and Dove' was used as a dance hall but eventually this ended. The old, disused farm buildings used by 'The Rainbow and Dove' were demolished in 1954 leaving only
1862-505: The production of weaponry and armour. During this period the main estate of Paris Hall was rebuilt (1600). Since 1777, the village has undergone expansion. The majority of the growth in Hastingwood centred around the common on Hastingwood Road. In this period, Hastingwood Farm (currently the Rainbow and Dove) was erected as a timber framed farmhouse. There was further building development in
1911-497: The station and North Weald village. Hastingwood Hastingwood is a hamlet in the North Weald Bassett civil parish of the Epping Forest district of Essex , England. The hamlet is centred on the junction of Hastingwood Road, which runs southwest to the A414 road and the Hastingwood Junction 7 of the M11 motorway , and Mill Street, which runs north to Harlow Common and Potter Street . Nearby settlements include
1960-455: The town of Harlow, North Weald and the hamlet of Foster Street . The earliest records of Hastingwood originate from 1086 when the Paris Hall estate was founded. The remains of the estate lie on Hastingwood Road, with the mansion house dating from the 1500s still standing and given Grade II protection in 1952. It is surrounded by various ancient farms such as Canes Farm and Newhouse Farm. It
2009-578: The trend normal in rural Essex until about 1861: there was an increase to 886 in 1831 and a subsequent slight decrease. But between 1861 and 1901, when the agricultural depression was depopulating most villages, the population of North Weald rose from 842 to 1,135. This was clearly due to the coming of the railway in 1865. New places of worship in the 19th century were the Congregational chapel in Weald Bridge Road, built about 1830 but closed about 1874,
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2058-498: The village worked in construction, followed by 17.5% working in health and retail. Unemployment in Hastingwood stands at 2.8%. The population includes 50.7%, and 49.3% men. The majority of the population (22%) are between the ages of 45–59. The next largest age groups are those between the ages of 30-44 and 0–4. 1.2% of the village are aged 90+ years old. Hastingwood's public house is the Grade II listed Rainbow and Dove, which dates to
2107-485: The village, which encompass patches of surviving pre-18th-century and 18th- 19th-century fields and a large area of ancient landscape to the south of the village. Also to the west and east of North Weald Airfield, sensitive areas of historic landscape comprise surviving pre 18th century and 18th- 19th-century fields. Much was previously used for arable farming. Five areas with urban green-space character provide accessible areas for sport and recreation. As of 2001 census
2156-457: The wood. Norden 's Map of Essex , 1594, does not show North Weald as a densely wooded parish. In 1777 there was apparently no woodland there apart from Weald Hall Coppice. This is specially interesting in view of the survival of large woods in neighbouring parishes. Weald Hall Coppice still survives, and there is also a small wood at Canes farm. North Weald formed 1,739 acres of the Ongar Hundred. The ancient manor houses were Weald Hall, near
2205-577: Was an important fighter station during the Battle of Britain, when it was known as the RAF Station RAF North Weald. Latton Priory was a small priory of Augustinian Canons Regular, the remains of which are a Grade II* listed building. Paris Hall is a 16th-century Grade II* listed house. In 1086 North Weald was one of the most thickly wooded places in Essex. Peter de Valognes' manor in North Weald
2254-402: Was incorporated into a new two-member Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common seats, whilst Hastingwood, Foster Street, and Harlow Common were adopted into a new Hastingwood, Matching & Sheering Village single-member seat. In 2024, boundary changes saw the seat reformed under the original parish boundaries with Hastingwood, Thornwood, and North Weald (and the other smaller villages) brought under
2303-479: Was part of the Harlow Hundred and made up 793 acres (3.2 km ) of this area. In 1520, Hastingwood was formerly listed as 'Hazelwood' due to its proximity to a local copse of hazel trees in the Paris Hall estate. It was renamed Hastingwood in around the 1700s. The village served as Oliver Cromwell 's armoury during the English Civil War in 1645. Hastingwood has large flint deposits which were utilised in
2352-423: Was renamed 'The Rainbow Inn' (after the name of the owner) and became used as a stop for travellers with their horses between Cambridge and London. The further renaming of the inn to 'The Rainbow and Dove' came after travellers noticed a topiary bird, they believed was a dove, on the grounds of the inn. In the 20th century, the population expanded slightly up until the 1920s and plateaued until 1945, after-which, in
2401-424: Was said to contain woodland sufficient for 1,500 swine, showing how wooded the area was. The 'wood of Henry of Essex ' in North Weald was mentioned in 1248. In 1260 Philip Basset , Henry's successor as lord of the manor, complained that many robberies were being done in this wood near the road between Ongar and Waltham , and he secured the king's permission to assart (turn forestry into arable land) 6 acres of
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